Kane County Reporter

Republican Congressional candidate Mark Carroll is seeking a renewed optimism in the American spirit as part of his campaign for the 11th District. 

“I am entering this race because I believe in the optimistic and positive promise of America," Carroll said in a Facebook video. "It's a promise that inspires people to greatness, a promise that in America, opportunity is blind to race, gender, religion or economic condition. A promise that all people are endowed by their creator with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. A promise that government derives its authority from the consent of its citizens. A promise that seeks to unite instead of divide."

Caroll further promised that he runs on a campaign for Illinoisans' brighter future.  

"A promise that tomorrow will always be better than today," he continued. "A promise that our children's futures will always be brighter than our own. A promise that America's glory has not come and gone, but that America's best days are always ahead of us. A promise that our allies respect us and our enemies fear us. A promise that America remains that shining city on the hill as a beacon of hope and freedom for the whole world." 

He knows that a lot of hard work comes with his promise.

"Our mission is clear," Carroll said. "I'm prepared to demonstrate that the unwavering principles and optimistic vision of the Republican Party are really America's principles and America's vision and represent the best hope of restoring the promise of America and ensuring a better, brighter tomorrow for all Americans, for generations to come.” 

Carroll is an attorney with 20 years of experience in private practice. He has been a village trustee for North Aurora for the past seven years. Previously he interned with and worked as a staff assistant to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution under the chairmanship of the late Honorable Henry Hyde.

Carroll is part of a crowded field of candidates seeking a June 28 GOP primary win. He will face off against Jerry Evans, Susan Hathaway-Altman, Andrea Heeg, Catalina Lauf, Juan Ramos, and Cassandra Tanner Miller. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) is running unopposed for the Democrats.

Illinois' 11th Congressional District includes Aurora, Joliet and Naperville.

FiveThirtyEight shows the district is leaning Democratic with a 10-point advantage for Foster. The seat is one of 13 seats in the state-leaning Democratic, three others in the state are leaning Republican, while another is a toss-up.